Signal system for elevators



March 4, 1952 D S Z SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1949 Z. JckzzZZz INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 4, 1952 SCHULTZ SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 9, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS- March 4, 1952 o. SCHULTZ SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS 3 She tS Sheei 3 Filed NOV. 9, 1949 John ZZZ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS Don Schultz, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 9, 1949, Serial No. 126,363

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to signal systems and more particularly to such systems adapted to indicate to the operator of an elevator the position of another, or other, elevators in a multiple elevator group, and has for its principal object the provision of indicating means, as for example, a light in each car for each other car of the group adapted to be illuminated when its related elevator is at the opposite end of its upward or downward trip from that of the car containing the indicating means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby such lights are only illuminated at the termination of a trip indicating that the car is ready for a return trip and not during the upward or downward travel of the elevator.

A further object is the provision of such a 7 signal system which will indicate to an operator the position of all other cars of the group, thus indicating the proper time to start a return trip and eliminating the necessity for an elevator starter.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view, partially.

broken away, of a group of elevators embodying the instant invention, certain details being exaggerated for the sake of clarity of illustration.

. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the center elevator of the group.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the end elevators of the group.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a constructional detail.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, partially in section, and partially in elevation of one of the electrical contact members, and

Fig. '7 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the control circuit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is generally indicated at it an elevator shaft containing a group of elevators H, l2 and I 3. Each elevator carries upwardly and downwardly extending contact members M and l5, l6 and I1, and I8 and I9 adapted to engage alternatively upper and lower contact plates 20 and 2 l, 22 and 23, and 24 j and 25, in accordance with the position of the associated elevator for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. These contact members are identical in construction and, as best shown in Fig. 2, comprise extending arms 26 pivotally connected to the rear of the elevator, extending toward the rear wall of the shaft and terminating in contact rollers 21. The rollers travel on strips of insulating material 28, 29 and 30 between their associated upper and lower contact plates. Each contact plate 20, 2|, 22, 23, 24 and 25 is mounted on a sheet of insulating material 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively, which sheets in turn are pivoted as on pivots 31 for movement of the contact plates towards and away from their associated contact rollers, in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, and spring biased, as by springs 38 towards such contact rollers.

In addition to the above mentioned contact members, each elevator is provided with a plurality of additional contact members depending from the floor thereof and adapted to engage additional contact plates fixedly positioned in the shaft adjacent their path of travel. Car H is provided with contact members 40 and 4| adapted to selectively engage upper and lower contact plates 44 and 45 and 46 and 41 respectively. Center car 12 carries contact members 49, 50, 5| and 52 adapted to engage contact plates 55 and 55, 51 and 58, 59 and 60 and BI and 62 respectively, while car l3 carries contact members 63 and 6 adapted selectively to engage contact plates 65 and 61, 68 and 69 respectively. The above mentioned contact members are identical and take the form of rollers 12 carried by brackets .3 of arms 14 pivotally mounted on pivots 15 and spring biased as by springs '16 towards their associated contact plates (see Fig. 6). Insulating strips are provided between related upper and lower contacts for each roller to travel upon between the extremities of the elevators trips, whereby the circuits illuminating the signals are closed only when the elevator is at the top or bottom of the shaft.

Mechanical circuit breaking means are provided for breaking certain circuits under conditions to be pointed out hereinafter and take the form, as best shown in Fig. 5, of a plurality of parallel horizontal rods l1, l8 and 19 extending the full width of the shaft and journaled for rotation in journal members 80. Rod 11 is provided with two upwardly extending arms 8| and 82 terminating in rollers and positioned to contact insulating plates 3| and 35 respectively and adapted when rod 11 is rotated to move contact plates 20 and 24 respectively out of engagement, or out of the path of possible engagement with contact members I4 and I 8 respectively. Such rotative movement is effected by the abutment of arm 93 are moved by a-pr j ctionicarried by car .2

I3. Thus it will be seen that when any car is at the top of the shaft the pivoted switch plates associated with the other two cars are moved out of position precluding the closing-of any-circuit through the upwardly extending contact :arms

carried by the other two cars.

An identical device, inverted, is provided at the lower extremity of the shaft including horizontal rods 94, 95 and 96 and identical arms and bumpers adapted to .preclude the closing ofcir- 'cu'its through two of.lower contactsZl, 23 or 25 "when .any .car isat the bottom of 'thesh'aft.

:Referring now particularlyto Fig. '7, it will be noted'that thecars III2 and I3 are .each prospectively and each panel boardhas two lam s "designated .bythenumerals 91 and 98,9?) and .TIIIl, 'IOI and Ill2,'respectively. A source of elec- 'trical supply is diagrammatically indicated as a positive lead H2 and a negative lead II l. Positive leads are shown from each of the panel boards toone sideof each ofits respective lamps, while .the .negativeside of the circuit is established through plates .and rollers connected to the negative .side .IIILof the power circuit. It

will-be understood that .the power circuit is .intrcduced. into .each "car through the usual push button .panel located .in .all elevators.

Lights 91 ..and 98 areconnected.by.a.positive wire J94 extending .fromthe panel board in car I I. .A wire. I 05-.connects the negativesideof .light .9! withwroller '40. The contact plates 55 and '46 rare connected.byawireI06. The negative or ground. terminaloflig'h't. 98 is connected through a wire I01 with-both contact rollers id and i5. -Cor'1tact .plates Mand 45 and- 46 and ll areconmected by wires 09 and I Ill, respectively. Wires 44 and'dfiflconnect-the plates l l and 5?, 48 and 55respectively. Pivoted contact plate 2| is also connected .by .a wire II5 to line H4. Upper pivo'tedcontact plate 26 is connected with line vH 4 by .a wire -I.I.6 from which latter wires Ill, II'I8 and II 9 lead to pivoted contact plates 22 -.arid.l23, .24 and 25 respectively.

LlrLamps e9 .and I9!) of car I2 are connected .by..a positive wire-I2I to panel board IZI. The negative side of lamp 99 is connected through .wire I22 with roller contact 50which in turn is connected by a wire I23 with roller contact 5!, while from the negative side of lamp lilil a wire L24 leads to roller contacts -I'6-- and I7. 'Wires 126,121, I28 and 129 connect contactplatesfifi -and56, 51 and 58, 5! and 62 and ?59 and'liiire- .spectively, while additional wires I35 and I3: connect contactplates 6| and'BBand 59 and T68 respectively.

Wires I34 and 335 extend between contact platesBIi and 6'! and 68 'and69 respectively. A wire .I 3fi:conrre'cts roller 6.3with' the negative side of the'line'at cabinet I35. Roller 64in turnis :connected by a Wire I38 with lamp I'9I and by positivewire I39 to panel board I 36' and lamp :I'02. Wire MI "connects the negative sideof the lamp I92with'roller contacts 'I'Ban'd I9.

'F'rom't'he foregoing theoperation ofthe' system 4 should now be readily understandable. With the cars in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7, that is with cars I I and I3 at the bottom of the shaft and car I2 at the top, it will be seen that lights 97 and I 9| are illuminated, the circuit being from the source II2 to the cabinet I04 through wire I94, lamp 91, wire I05, roller 40, plate 45, wire I85, plate il, wire Us, plate 45, wire 45', plate 55, rollers 49 and 52, plate 5|, wire I35, plate 65,

wire I34,,plate Bl, roller 63, wire I36'toithe cabinet I33 and thus to the negative side I14 of the power circuit. The circuit for lamp IllI is readily traceable from the diagram and a detail descriptiorlfis deemed unnecessary. Lamps 98 and I02 are out due ..to the fact that the car I3, through the mechanical circuit breaking device previously described, has broken the circuit through pivoted contact plate 2! to lamp 98 and correspondingly, car II has similarly broken the circuit to lamp I02 through pivoted contact plate 25. Thus there 'is disclosedto the operators of c'ars'I'Iand1 3 the Tact that one car is at thetop of the shaft "and "the othereither-at the bottom or in transit.

Conversely both lights 99 and lflflareillumi- =nated, the circuits being from source 'I'I2' through lead I'I2 'to the cabinet I2I, wire I2I, lamp 99, wire I22, roller 5ii, plate 5?, wire'4'4, plate 44,'wire 1B9, plate 45, Wire I05, plate 11, Wire II'0, plate 35, wire 53', plate 55, rollers 49 and 52, was 130,

platetfi, wire I34, plate 61, wire I35 back'to'the negative side of the power circuit. Also the lamp I00 isin a closed circuit including leads I2 I, I24, roller I6, plate wires Ill and H6 to the negative -side [I4 of the power circuit.

If now,for example, 'car I3 starts up the shaft, the circuit'to lamp IOI will obviouslybe broken, nor will the lamp be re-illuminated until contacts If both 'ic'ars engaged by roller I3 and both lamps illuminated. It isito be. noted that upward movement of car I3 releases the mechanical circuit breaker "permitting theplate 2! to engage contact roller I5 thus illuminating lamp 98.

The further illumination or 'extinguishment .Iof one 'or bothlamps in .either car may iberea'dily determined by tracing the various circuitsinvolved and accordingly further description of the operation is believed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing a group or three ele vatorshas been shown and described,iit.is tobe understood that any number of elevators in a group may utilize the system of the instant in-' vention by extension of the above described ,cir-' cuits, the number of lights in each carbeingone less than the number of cars in the group.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment shown .and .described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to .be interpreted'merely as illustrative .mechanical circuit breaking and'circuit' making means including :a plurality of pivoted contacts each having an insulator secured thereto and each associated with asignal in one elevator; 'a plurality of parallel pivoted rods, eachcarryin'g arm's adapted to engage'all of said contacts except one, and projecting means on the elevator associated with said one of said pivoted contacts adapted to rotate a rod to pivot the remainder of said pivoted contacts breaking circuits.

2. In a signal system for multiple grouped elevators, signals in each of said elevators corresponding to each other elevator in the group, mechanical circuit breaking means including a plurality of pivoted contacts, each having an insulator secured thereto and each associated with a signal in one elevator, a plurality of parallel pivoted rods horizontally disposed in spaced relation with each other, each rod carrying arms adapted to engage all of said pivoted contacts except one, projecting means on the elevator associated with said one of said pivoted contacts 6 adapted to rotate a particular rod pivoting the remainder of said pivoted contacts away from said arms carried by the parallel rods.

DON SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,256,343 McNabb Feb. 12, 1918 1,947,097 Neuschotz Feb. 13, 1934 2,224,808 Carson Dec. 10, 1940 15 2,246,921 Kummer June 24, 1941 

